Staten Islanders are getting the boot

Staten Islanders are finding boots on their cars in front of their homes more frequently.Staten Island Advance

These boots are made for walking, because if you get one, that's just what you'll do.

As the city initiative to collect unpaid parking tickets rolls on, about 22 drivers a day here have found that dreaded yellow clamp secured to a tire on their car.

That's about 1,608 vehicles in total on Staten Island since last August, when the Department of Finance launched its traffic boot program in the outer boroughs, officials say. "The vast majority of New Yorkers do what they're supposed to do and pay their tickets," said Finance Commissioner David Frankel. "We're going after those, with unabashed fervor, who don't follow the rules. We're proud of doing it."

Hurricane Sandy provided a brief hiatus from the boot program, Frankel said, because the city refocused many of its resources and priorities on recovery efforts. But the boot is back, and it's ready to kick some cars in the rear.

On the Island alone, there are over 100,000 outstanding summonses on about 44,000 license plates, some of which are repeat offenders. That's adds up to about $14.8 million in current outstanding violations for the borough. "Ninety-five percent of people who get parking tickets resolve by paying or challenging them successfully," Frankel said. "We go after the people who do a tremendous disservice by refusing to pay."

Cars with $350 in outstanding tickets that are more than three months past due will get an electronic boot rather than the traditional tow. This includes parking, red light camera or bus lane violation tickets, according to the Finance website.

Much to the chagrin of these stuck-in-place motorists, an unapologetic Frankel claimed that a booted car is better than having it towed. "It's much more difficult to get you car back after its been towed. This allows people to get back to their normal lives quicker," he said.

Towing, he said, is time-consuming, inconvenient and stressful. Booting also allows the driver to access certain personal items left in the car. Frankel hopes to have the boot program replace towing city-wide by the end of the summer.

But that doesn't mean towing will completely disappear. A car can still be towed for a myriad of traffic violations, including blocking a fire hydrant. Plus, if the boot isn't removed within 48 hours, the car will be towed anyway.

Tow or no tow, no one likes to see their car booted.

"It's an awful feeling when you see it," said one driver, whose car got the boot in front of his home in Westerleigh.

"It's embarrassing having this big yellow thing stuck to your car," said the man, who declined to give his name.

But Frankel said that's the point. "We hope this works as a deterrent. If other people see the boot, maybe they'll say 'I hope this doesn't happen to me.'"

To remove the boot, drivers can pay over the phone via a debit or credit card. They will then receive a release code, which will unlock it. There's also the option of paying in person. Once removed, the 16-pound boot must be returned to a participating outlet within 24 hours. A support officer could also be sent to retrieve it, usually within 2-4 hours.

The total cost for all this could be more than $600, depending on the number of tickets. There's a $180 boot fee, a $70 Sheriff's execution fee and a 5 percent surcharge on the total bill. Plus a charge if the boot isn't returned on time.

According to Frankel, that's slightly cheaper than being towed. "No one's happy about getting booted. But most people said it's better than getting towed," he maintained, adding that the simplest way to avoid the boot is to pay the ticket. "We're not hoping people get parking tickets. But a small portion of people who get tickets don't pay, and they make it unfair for the rest who do what they're supposed to do."